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Merrimack

Stephane Da Costa

DURHAM, N.H.  Merrimack sophomore center Stephane Da Costa, ranked ninth in the country in scoring and considered to be a Hobey Baker candidate as well as Hockey East Player of the Year candidate, went down with an apparent knee injury in Merrimack's 4-2 win over UNH on Friday night at the Whittemor Center.

Da Costa and UNH senior Phil DeSimone collided at center ice with 5:57 left in the third period, making knee-to-knee contact.

Da Costa immediately fell to the ice, right on the UNH logo in the neutral zone. Before trainers even arrived, he was pounding his fist in frustration.

"We'll have to see," said Merrimack head coach Mark Dennehy. "It's one of those things where we have to wait for the swelling to go down and we'll see."

He then added, "I didn't see (the play) live."

Da Costa, whose parents were in town from Paris for the weekend series, leads the Warriors with 36 points.

After being helped to his feet by training staff, Da Costa was carried to the Merrimack bench, not putting any weight on his left leg.

He remained on the bench for the conclusion of the game. Teams have to skate to the ice door from the benches at the Whittemore Center and Da Costa was helped to the dressing from by backup goaltender Sam Marotta and one of the training staff.

The Warriors just had two players — John Jamieson and Kyle Bigos — return from knee injuries last week.

The long-term prognosis for Da Costa is not known. He is expected to undergo further testing once swelling in his knee subsides.